Union of England and Scotland – 3

In the debates on the union, some Scots statesmen found a tactic, infinitely valuable to them in the united Parliament, of voting in a group.

Continuing Union of England and Scotland,
our selection from John Hill Burton. The selection is presented in easy 5 minute installments.

Previously in Union of England and Scotland.

Time: 1707
Place: British Isles

I think I see the present peers of Scotland, whose noble ancestors conquered provinces, overran countries, reduced and subjected towns and fortified places, exacted tribute through the greater part of England, now walking in the court of requests like so many English attorneys, laying aside their walking-swords when in company with the English peers, lest their self-defense should be found murder.

I think I see the royal state of boroughs walking their desolate streets, hanging down their heads under disappointments, wormed out of all the branches of their old trade, uncertain what hand to turn to, necessitate to become ‘prentices to their unkind neighbors and yet after all finding their trade so fortified by companies and secured by prescriptions that they despair of any success therein. But above all, my lord, I think I see our ancient mother, Caledonia, like Caesar, sitting in the midst of our senate, ruefully looking round her, covering herself with her royal garment, attending the fatal blow and breathing out her last with a ‘et tu quoque mi fili,’“

The great remedy for all is an end of rancorous feuds and hatreds dividing Scotland; and this calls from him a glowing picture of the land that by union and industry has made itself too powerful to be a safe partner for humiliated Scotland:

They are not under the afflicting hand of Providence as we are; their circumstances are great and glorious; their treaties are prudently managed both at home and abroad; their generals brave and valorous; their armies successful and victorious; their trophies and laurels memorable and surprising; their enemies subdued and routed. Their royal navy is the terror of Europe; their trade and commerce extended through the universe, encircling the whole world and rendering their own capital city the emporium for the whole inhabitants of the earth.”

The speech was for the country, not for the House. The great points about trade and virtual independence had been conceded by England and a union was looked to rather as a refuge and a gain than as oppression and plunder. It has even been said that there was some inclination to receive the speech with irony; and Defoe, who seems to have been present on the occasion, gives this account of what followed:

Mr. Seton, who made the first speech, stood up to answer the Lord Belhaven; but as he had already spoken, the order of the House — viz., ‘that the same member could not speak twice in the same cause’ — was urged against his speaking and the Earl of Marchmont standing up at the same time, the lord chancellor gave place to him, who indeed made a short return to so long a speech and which answer occasioned some laughter in the House. The Earl of Marchmont’s speech was to this purpose, viz.: He had heard a long speech and a very terrible one; but he was of opinion it required a short answer, which he gave in these terms: ‘Behold he dreamed, but, lo! when he awoke, he found it was a dream.’ This answer, some said, was as satisfactory to the members, who understood the design of that speech as if it had been answered vision by vision.”

In the debates on the union, some Scots statesmen found a tactic, infinitely valuable to them in the united Parliament, of voting in a group. They were called the “New party,” and nicknamed the “Squadrone volante.” In the correspondence already referred to, it was good news at St. Stephen’s when it was announced that the New party had adopted the union. On the critical division the numbers stood one hundred eighteen for the article and eighty-three against it. The remainder of the clauses passed without division, a ready acceptance being given to amendments, that were virtually improvements, in giving effect to the spirit of details in the treaty; as where it was adjusted that, for trading purposes, vessels bought abroad for trade from the Scots harbors should be counted equivalent to vessels of Scottish build.

There was a considerable noisy excitement through the country, the Jacobites ever striving to rouse the people in the great towns to riot and sedition and, when they found that impossible, spreading exaggerated accounts of the effects of their efforts. A mob was raised in Edinburgh but it was appeased without the loss of life and with no other casualty save the frightening of the provost’s wife. There were some eccentric movements among the Cameronians, rendered all the more grotesque by the Jacobites taking the leadership in them; and some of the more vehement clergy betook themselves to their own special weapons in the holding of a day of humiliation and prayer.

Ere the whole came to a conclusion, a point was yielded to the Presbyterian Church of Scotland. It was passed as a separate act before the Act of Union was passed — the separate act stipulating its repetition in any act adopting the Treaty of Union. It provided for the preservation of the discipline, worship and ecclesiastical government of the establishment. It was further provided that every sovereign of the United Kingdom, on accession to the throne, should make oath in terms of this act. Hence it happens that this oath is taken immediately on the accession, the other oaths, including that for the protection of the Church of England, being postponed till the ceremony of the coronation. On October 16, 1706, there came a vote on the passing of the “Act ratifying and approving the Treaty of Union.” This was carried in the Scots Parliament by one hundred ten to sixty-nine.

It was the determination of the Queen’s ministers for England to carry the treaty as it came from Scotland, word for word; and they employed all their strength to do so. It was the policy of the English government and their supporters in the matter of the union, to avoid a Parliamentary debate upon it clause by clause at St. Stephen’s.

Continued.

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